Air and cotton separator



July 23, 1929. w. L. HANCOCK AIR AND COTTON SEPARATOR Filed Nov. 25,1.928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue'ntm \/I///0m 1.. Hancock Patented July 23,1929.

STTES I I I m nt ATEN HE.

WILLIAM L. HANCOCK, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR 'IO 'II-IEIVIURRAYCOMPANY, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

AIR AND COTTON SEPARATOR.

Application filed November 23, 1928. Serial No. 321,400.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in air and cottonseparators.

One object of the invention is to provide a separator of the pocket drumtype with a by-pass or duct, arranged to receive a surplus in the feedof cotton to the separator, whereby choking'is prevented and a more evendistribution of the cotton, as fed to the separator, is obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dome on top of theduct capable of relieving a congestion of cotton in the duct and thusaccommodating all the cotton fed to the separator.

A still further object of the invention is to eliminate valves at theair discharge openings of the casing and to provide in the transitionfeeding the air and cotton to the easing, an adjustable deflectorcapable of controlling the feed, whereby the air-cotton currents mayenter unimpeded or whereby the air-cotton currents may be diverted orimpeded so as to control the feed. Such an ar rangement has theadvantage of retarding the feed or evening out the flow. Anotheradvantage is that the deflector may be re moved when not desired.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein Fig. 1 is atransverse vertical sectional view of a separator constructed inaccordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the transition, the deflector being shown indotted lines,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the separator, one end of the casingbeing removed,

Fig. 5 is a view of the deflector, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the transition anddeflector.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates an airtight outer casing whichmay be of any desired shape and is preferably made of sheet metal.Within the outer casing is an inner casing or cylindrical separatingchamber comprising two imperforate curved metal sheets 11 and 12 and twocurved foraminous sections 13 and 13 extendingupwardly from the rearedge of the sheet 11.

The sheets 11 and 12 with the sections are disposed concentrically andthus define the cylindrical chamber. v

Between the bottom edge of the sheet 12 and the front edge of the sheet11 is formed a vertical cotton chute 14 extending longitudinally of thecasing from end to end thereof. This chute is facedalong its front sideby a. sheet metal wall 15 and along its rear side it is closed by aboard 16 on the upper edge of which the front edge portion of the sheet11 is secured. The gap formed in the cylindrical chamber by the chuteconstitutes the cotton outlet of the same.

Across the top of the front side of the cas-. ing is a longitudinalinlet 17, extending substantially from one end of the casing to theother end thereof and being comparatively narrow vertically. Adownwardly flared throat 18 extends from the inlet to the upper side ofthe separating chamber, terminating at the upper edges of the sheet 12and the sections '13 and 13 and coextensive with the inlet. The upperside of the throat is formed by guide sheets 19. 7

Within the separating chamber. is mounted in suitable bearings 20 at theends of the casing, a pocket separating drum orvalv-e 21. This drum isequipped with longitudinal radially extending vanes or blades 22,provided with wiping or sealing strips 23 of rubberized belting or othersuitable material, as is the usual practice.

These strips project from the outer longitudinal edges of the blades andmake continuous contact, throughout their lengths, with the sectors 11,12 and 13 and 13 0f the separating chamber. The sectors 11 and 12 are ofsuch circumferential width that at least one strip 23 is always incontact therewith, so as'to prevent an upward passage of air from thechute 14.

The blades 22 form therebetween pockets for receiving the cotton and airfrom the throat 18 as the drum revolves, the air being released throughthe foraminous sectors 13 and 13 and the cotton being dumped by gravityinto the chute 14.

In the rear of the casing 10 is formed an air manifold 24 having at itsbottom a curved guide sheet 25 extending down from the rear edge of thesheet 11 to the rear wall of the said casing. At each end of the bottomof the manifold outlets 26 provided in the rear of the wall of thecasing, constitute entrances to separating chamber within the casingcommunicating with said inlet and said outlets, a separating drumrevolving in said chamber, a throat in the casing extending from theinlet to the chamber and disposed longitudinally of the casing forconducting air-cotton currents to the chamber, a transverse duct in thecasing extending from the throat and contiguous to the separatingchamber for receiving and conducting an overflow of air and cotton fromthe throat to the drum, a transverse do'me on the casing communicatingwith the top of the duct for receiving and storing an overflow of airand cotton from the duct, a transition connected to the inlet of the ca,ing, and a deflector mounted in the transition for controlling thepassage of air-cotton currents to the casing.

5. A cotton and air separator comprising, in combination, a casinghaving an air-cotton inlet and separate air and cotton outlets, aseparating chamber within the casing communicating with said inlet andsaid outlets, a separating drum revolving in said chamber, a manifoldwithin the casing, the air outlets of said casing being located at eachend of said manifold, the separating chamber having a foraminous sectorfor establishingair connection with the manifold a transition connectedto the 1 inlet of the casing, and means in the transition for directinga major portion of the inflowing air-cotton currents toward one end ofthe casing, said means being rotatable to direct said currents to eithersine of the casing. I

6. A cotton and air separator comprising in combination, a casing havingan air-cotton inlet with a feed throat communicating therewith andseparate air and cotton outlets, a separating chamber within the casingcommunicating with the inlet feed throat and said outlets, a separatingdrum revolving in said chamber, a duct in the casing circumferential toa portion of the chamber and extending rearwardly from the feed throatfor receiving an overflow of cotton therefrom, and a dome on the casingupwardly above the throat at the inlet to the duct and rearwardly for aportion of the length. of the duct for providing a relief chamber forexcess to pre vent packing in the duct and to feed by gravity to saidthroat. V

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' WVILLIAM L. HANCOCK.

